The Spices of Life
"I like food that enlivens the palate, that speaks of strength of flavor, refined textures, seductive and sensuous aromas that activate the taste buds and tantalize the mind-essential food for the body and soul. I believe that eating must be about enjoyment and health, and that gastronomic pleasure must be a part of everyday life." Christine Manfield, "Spice", Periplus Editions, 2005.
If our taste buds are the vehicles that allow us to experience the five taste senses, spices function as the threads of the culinary tapestry, stimulating, amplifying, and tying together our taste senses with our sense of smell by influencing aroma and modifying how we experience the feel of food in our mouths. Thanks to the retail website Spices, Inc. for the following primer on the sensory characteristics of spices and how you can incorporate spices into your cooking practice to enhance your enjoyment of food.
Below are the 15 most common sensory characteristics used when describing the flavors and aroma profiles of spices. Saltiness is not included because salty flavor does not come from an individual spice in any capacity.
Sensory Characteristics of Spices
Bitter:
Bitterness alone is not a good flavor for humans, who are especially sensitive to it. Bitter flavors are usually considered an acquired taste, and they are present in coffee, chocolates, and beer. Most vegetables contain at least a little bit of bitterness, especially when they are consumed raw.Some examples of spices that are considered bitter are: Bay Leaf, Celery, Clove, Cumin Seed, Epazote, Fenugreek Seeds, Horseradish, Juniper, Lavender, Mace, Marjoram, Oregano, Summer Savory, Sichuan Peppercorns, Star Anise, Turmeric, Thyme
Cooling:
Cooling spices are those that give the mouth a refreshed sensation. If your first thought was tasting mint in a tall glass of chilled water on a sweaty summer day, that is exactly the feeling your mouth gets from cooling spices.Some cooling spices include: Spearmint, Dill, Anise, Fennel, Sweet Basil
Earthy:
Earthy spices are those which taste closely resembles where they come from. This is the flavor profile used to describe potatoes or beets, foods that are intimately tied to the earth. Some people will say this flavor is dirty and undesirable. This flavor comes from the presence of geosmin. Examples of earthy spices include: Achiote, Cumin, Saffron
Floral: These spices are those that give us the nice flavor experience of the spring. You would more than likely associate this flavor with teas. Floral spices include: Coriander, Lemongrass, Rose Petals, Saffron, Sweet Basil, Thyme, Lavender
Fruity:
Herbs and spices with this flavor profile taste exactly how you would expect them to. They are sweeter and give off a nice fruity scent.Some fruity spices include: Anise, Fennel, Summer Savory, Star Anise, Tamarind
Herbaceous:
Herbaceous flavors are those which are herbal in nature. This seems like an obvious thing to say, but there is really no other language to describe this flavor.Examples of herbaceous spices include: Dill Weed, Lavender, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Summer Savory, Tarragon, Thyme
Hot:
The hot flavor profile comes from the most exciting part of the flavor range. This flavor is characterized by its ability to heat up your mouth quickly, sometimes making food unbearable enough to leave you coughing. If your chile is the right level of hot, you may find yourself crying as well. Some examples of hot spices are: Black Pepper, Chiles, Horseradish, Mustard, Wasabi, White Pepper
Nutty:
Some people associate this flavor with almonds. Foods that are also associated with this flavor are cashews, peanuts, and walnuts. There is almost something buttery about the nutty flavor.Nutty spices include: Black Cardamom, Coriander Seed, Cumin Seed, Fenugreek Seed, Mustard Seed, Poppy Seed, Sesame Seed
Piney:
If you have smelled a pine tree before, you have a vague idea of what the pine flavor tastes like. It’s a bitey flavor that one must become accustomed to.Piney spices include: Bay Leaf, Rosemary, Thyme
Pungent:
Spices that fall under the pungent classification are strongly flavored and have strong aromatics as well.Some pungent spices are: Allspice, Epazote, Garlic, Ginger, Horseradish, Marjoram, Mustard, Onion, Paprika, Spearmint, Star Anise, Wasabi, Dill Seeds SourSour flavors make your mouth pucker. You will find that sour flavors may make you salivate more than usual, and they can be find complimenting sweet foods quite nicely.Some sour spices include: Sumac, Tamarind
Spicy:
Foods and spices thought to be spicy give a nice burst of strong flavor. Spicy food is often intense, though short lived.Some examples of spicy spices include: Bay Leaf, Cloves, Coriander, Cumin, Curry Leaf, Ginger, Marjoram, Nutmeg
Sulfury:
This flavor profile is hard to describe. Some would say it has an almost egg like taste to it, but that’s not quite it. The sulfury flavor profile is arguably the most associated with scent over taste, which makes sense because your sense of taste and smell are intimately linked.Some sulfury spices are: Chives, Garlic, Onion
Sweet:
This flavor is defined by how much sugar our tongue can discern in a food. Usually sweet foods are paired with sour or salty foods. The contrasting flavors are pleasing to the human tongue and gives our brain a pleasing chemical reaction.Sweet spices include: Allspice, Anise, Caraway, Cassia Cinnamon, Chervil, Cloves, Dill Seed, Fennel, Green Cardamom, Nutmeg, Poppy Seed, Sesame Seed, Star Anise, Granulated Honey, Granulated Molasses
Woody:
Woody flavors are those that taste vaguely like wood. Sometimes you will find coffee being described as woody, especially if the coffee beans are especially aged.Some examples of woody spices are: Cardamom, Ceylon Cinnamon, Cloves, Juniper, Lavender, Rosemary, Sichuan Peppercorns
Source: https://www.spicesinc.com/
The human palette is an amazing thing, with the capacity to taste some flavors at one part per billion, so get out there and enjoy the recipes on this website. If you like the recipes you find, there are many more to come. Please remember to follow us at #foodblogchef on Instagram and FoodBlog Chef on Facebook and tell your friends about www.the5TastesTable.com.